Information Age is seeking comment from the ATO on whether the ELS issues relate to the same Microsoft patch.

A spokesman for tax agent H&R Block confirmed that it was also feeling the effects of the ATO systems slowdown.

“Most of the publicity has been around the slow performance of MyTax and e-Tax, which doesn’t directly impact H&R Block since those services are targeted at self-lodgers,” a H&R Block spokesperson said.

“However, the wider ATO system has also been affected and this has also caused the Tax Agent Portal to run slow. This is the interface that tax agents use to manage their client’s affairs with the ATO and is a vital tool in our business.

“Clearly, having this operating at a sub-optimal rate impacts our ability to efficiently service our clients.”

The ATO said on July 7 that it was "working 24 hours a day to fix" the system issues. It reported some progress on July 8, stating that "90 percent of taxpayers trying to lodge are successfully accessing online services and lodging their returns."

On July 9, it said systems for individuals lodging returns were "significantly improved", and a day later noted things were stabilising, although further bugs were due to be ironed out over the weekend.

RY CROZIER

Ry Crozier has worked in the technology sector for 16 years, both as a journalist and as a technical PR specialist.

Crozier re-joined iTnews and Information Age in 2015, after previous stints as a journalist at the University of New South Wales, iTnews and Electronics News.